Open AccessA rare histologic subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma, sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case
Author(s) -
Numbereye Numbere,
Dongwei Zhang,
Diana Agostini-Vulaj
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
hepatic oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2045-0931
pISSN - 2045-0923
DOI - 10.2217/hep-2020-0027
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , cirrhosis , sarcomatoid carcinoma , pathology , cancer , liver cancer , carcinoma , chemotherapy , oncology
Worldwide, primary liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (SHC) is a rare subtype of HCC with conventional HCC admixed with areas with sarcomatoid morphology. SHC is an aggressive, rapidly growing tumor with unfavorable prognosis. Pedunculated SHC is an uncommon presentation of SHC. Due to its rarity, much remains unknown about the etiopathogenesis, molecular underpinnings, and treatment of SHC. We present a case of an exophytic SHC arising in a background of cirrhosis in an older adult. A resection was performed, but the patient subsequently developed multiple additional intrahepatic metastatic lesions necessitating further treatment with chemotherapy.